Rumor: PS4 to be backwardly compatible?

And could PS3 backward compatability make a return, too?

Sony isn't ready to turn its back on backward compatability just yet, according to a job ad put out by the company.

So Gamefront.de is reporting, Sony Computer Entertainment Japan is currently advertising for a software engineer to deal with backward compatability for both the PS3 and an unspecified next-gen console - which sounds an awful lot like the PlayStation 4 to us.

Specifically, the engineer will be required to implement and optimise emulation software for PS1, PS2, PSP and PS3 games on both formats.

Not only would it suggest that PS4 development is now at the point where Sony can start thinking about specific software such as emulators, the fact the PS3 is mentioned as part of the job brief is also of note.

Although Sony has enjoyed considerably more PS3 success since it introduced the 40GB model last year (going so far as to drop all other versions of the PS3 in Europe and Japan), the fact it's not backwardly compatible with the PS2 hasn't gone down well with some gamers.

With many gamers still owning large numbers of PS2 games, reintroducing PS2 compatability would only help strengthen the PS3's improving image.

Or on the other hand, it could all just be wishful thinking. Either way, we should find out soon enough.